Celebrating one man’s remarkable contribution to National Eisteddfod
IT’S 30 years since the National Eisteddfod last came to Llanrwst, and it’s time to celebrate the achievements of a local man who made remarkable contributions to it and left a lasting legacy.
Huw S Owen was a skilled carpenter and designer, poet, writer of prose and history, artist and illustrator, teacher, playwright, sign writer, local historian, and the area Buildings Manager for the National Trust. He was affectionately known locally and further afield as Huw Sêl, and he was Ysbyty Ifan’s last wheelwright.
To celebrate the Eisteddfod’s return to the area, there will be an exhibition at Conwy Archives Service in Llandudno, showcasing some aspects of his work and contribution.
Huw Sêl was born in the village of Ysbyty Ifan in
1921, and lived there until his death in 1998. He was educated at the village school, then at Llanrwst Grammar School – during his time there, he lodged in the town.
His father, Gruffydd Owen, was also a wheelwright, and after considering a career as a ship’s ● carpenter, Huw followed in his father’s footsteps.
Huw Sêl’s work – both literary and manual – is rooted in the landscape of Ysbyty Ifan, and is often connected to specific people and homesteads.
The Archives’ collection includes poetry in praise and recognition of Huw Sêl by those who knew him – including a young Geraint Lloyd Owen, elected Archdruid of Wales in 2015 (CX461/2/6/1/1). Huw Sêl also acted as a mentor for young poets, including Myrddin ap Dafydd – the current Archdruid of Wales.
Huw Sêl competed in Eisteddfodau over a 40-year period, and also on Talwrn y Beirdd, the long-running Radio Cymru series pitting teams of poets against each other. In addition to producing prizewinning literary entries, Huw Sêl also designed and carved the Chair for the National Eisteddfod held in Llanrwst in 1989.
Not only was he chosen to both design and make an Eisteddfod chair – then usually considered separate skills – even more remarkably, Huw Sêl also won Notebooks first prize that same year in the Llyfr ym Mhatrwm Llafar Gwlad competition – a unique achievement.
His entry, which crosses the boundaries between local history and literature, went on to form the basis of his book published the following year, ‘Calon Gron a Thraed Cathod.’
Huw Sêl’s son, Rhodri Owen, has continued the family tradition – he designed and crafted the Chair for the National Eisteddfod held in Anglesey in 2017, and sells his handmade bespoke furniture through his calongron.com enterprise.
Conwy Archives holds the Huw Selwyn Owen collection, which includes his Eisteddfod entries over many years, diaries, correspondence, and old business records such as ledgers. He wrote down his memories of his childhood and early years, and also described the changes that the area saw more generally.
There are also photographs of Huw Sêl, his family and work, sketchbooks and designs for the 1989 National Eisteddfod chair; notes made by Huw Sêl for classes he taught; documents relating to the history of Ysbyty Ifan including copies of estate maps dating from the early 1800s; and Churchwardens’ account books.
If you would like to see these or any of the other records, along with an exhibition of the items featured here, visit Conwy Archives, the Old Board School, Lloyd Street, Llandudno, LL30 2YG. Opening times Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-4.30pm.
From the beginning of August, they will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays as they prepare for moving to their new site at Conwy Culture Centre in Conwy. They will still be open during the normal times on Wednesdays and Thursdays – call on 01492 577550 or email archifau. archives@conwy.gov.uk for further details.